Wrongful Convictions 101

You might be asking yourself, why make a blog about wrongful convictions? My answer is to inform the public about an issue that has come to light in recent years, and continue to increase awareness to push for reform of the criminal justice system. Currently, studies estimate that there might be up to 400,000 innocent people in prison (2). It makes you reevaluate your trust in the system, doesn’t it? Well, this post in particular will provide a little more information on the topic and give some insight behind the causes and effects of wrongful convictions.

When a person spends time in prison for a crime they did not commit, sometimes the damage is irreparable. In a study of 55 exonerated men, 22% of them stated that they suffered from personality changes, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, or a combination of them (3). The percentage might seem low, but that could be because some men do not openly express their emotions, especially after a traumatic experience. The same study also covered the different coping mechanisms the innocent men used in prison. These acts included joining gangs to have a sense of belonging or staying isolated to keep their sanity. However, the most difficult time the wrongfully accused will have in their life is adjusting to society once they are released. For example, they have trouble finding a job because of gaps in their work history or no work skills at all. Other issues include lack of social skills, understanding new technology, and depending on family members. All of these problems contribute to how exonerees prefer to be alone than to be humiliated in public or communicate with others.

But let me back up for a moment. What is an exoneree?

An exoneree is a person who was wrongfully accused of a crime, but later acquitted due to new evidence presented in court. How did they end up in prison in the first place? According to a study of 194 exonerations, 75% of the cases had false eyewitness testimony, 45% had invalid expert testimony, 30% had false confessions, and 22% had deceitful informants (1). These statistics prove that the number of wrongful convictions must be reduced, and should start by reforming procedures within the criminal justice system.

Thank you for reading! Please feel free to add any of your thoughts in the comments below.

References

1. Hampikian, G., West, E., & Akselrod, O. (2011). The genetics of innocence: Analysis of 194 U.S. DNA exonerations. Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics, 12, 97-120.

2. Ramsey, R. J. & Frank, J. (2007). Wrongful conviction: Perceptions of criminal justice professionals regarding the frequency of wrongful conviction and the extent of system errors. Crime & Delinquency, 53 (3), 436-470. 

3. Wildeman, J., Costelloe, M. & Schehr, R. (2011).Experiencing wrongful and unlawful conviction. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 50 (7), 411 – 432.